Syrians living tragedy and despair barely imaginable five years ago: UN relief official
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:53 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): The most senior United Nations humanitarian official on Tuesday stressed that the failure of parties to the conflict in Syria to uphold the basic tenets of international law has propelled the Syrian people to levels of tragedy and despair which could barely have been imagined five years ago.
UN report reveals urgent need for systematic approach to youth violence prevention
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): While youth violence is not a simple problem with easy solutions, a new report launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) underscores that prevention programmes can improve a broad range of health, education and social outcomes – and lead to potentially substantial economic savings.
Despite raging conflict, scores of refugees continue to arrive in Yemen by sea: UN
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:50 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): The ongoing conflict and the widening humanitarian crisis in Yemen has not deterred nearly 70,000 refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants to reach the country by sea causing the Yemini population to 'bear the brunt,' said the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday.
UN ramps up to assist those in Afghanistan and Pakistan affected by earthquake
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands of homes in Afghanistan and Pakistan were destroyed by the massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck the Badakshan Province in Afghanistan on Monday, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Cholera spreading in Iraq, suspected case reported in Syria: WHO
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:46 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday that it would start vaccine treatments for cholera beginning this weekend to prevent further outbreaks in Iraq, where the disease has now been confirmed in 15 out of 18 governorates, while the agency also reported a suspected case was also found in northern Syria.
Yemen: Ban calls to halt operations after Saudi-led airstrikes destroy hospital
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:44 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition that hit the Hayadeen Medical Hospital in the Sa'dah governorate, which is run by Médecins Sans Frontières with support from the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Nauru: OHCHR raises concerns about sexual assault allegations by asylum-seekers
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:42 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): Underscoring the "fragile mental and physical condition" of 'Abyan' (the pseudonym for a Somalian refugee), who was allegedly raped in Nauru in July and was returned by Australia, the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday called upon both countries to urgently provide decent mental and physical care for her, including provisions to terminate her pregnancy, if she desires.
UN General Assembly renews call for end to US embargo against Cuba
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:40 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): In a near unanimous vote, the 193-member United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution renewing its call for an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, while also acknowledging the restoration, after nearly 50 years, of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Burundi: Ban welcomes African Union decision on addressing political and security crisis
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:39 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): In a phone call on Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, discussed the situation in Burundi, with Ban welcoming recent decision by the AU Peace and Security Council on addressing the country's political impasse.
Côte d’Ivoire: Ban welcomes completion of first round of presidential elections
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:37 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday welcomed the successful completion of voting in the first round of presidential elections in Côte d'Ivoire, which took place on Sunday.
UN chief welcomes Israel's commitment to restore calm at holy sites in Jerusalem
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating Israel's commitment to uphold the status quo at the Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Yemen: UN envoy says negotiations only way to end cocktail of dramatic crises
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:53 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Stressing that a political solution is key to resolving the "terrible cocktail" of crises in Yemen, the United Nations Special Envoy for the country on Monday announced that preparations have begun for talks between the conflict parties.
UN report links processed meats to cancer in humans
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS):The cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that the consumption of processed meats like hotdogs, ham, sausages and meat-based sauces causes colorectal cancer, while eating red meat like beef, pork and lamb is "probably carcinogenic to humans."
El Niño will 'test' disaster resilience in hazard-prone Pacific region: UN
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:46 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Amid growing fears that the irregular climatic activities of El Niño will result in severe weather events across the hazard-prone region of small islands and atolls in the Pacific, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) on Monday addressed a gathering in Suva, Fiji, of disaster reduction and humanitarian response partners from across the region at a joint programme of events around regional resilience to disasters and emergency management.
UN human rights chief sends assessment mission to South Sudan
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:44 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): After reports of alleged violations and abuses of human rights committed by both parties to the conflict in South Sudan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is deploying a 10-member mission to the country to assess the situation.
UN official welcomes EU agreement on plan for Western Balkans migration route
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:42 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): As European leaders met this week to hammer out a 17-point plan of action on the Western Balkans migration route for refugees and migrants fleeing Syria and other strife-torn regions, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees commended the fact that a consensus had been reached.
First nine months of 2015 are hottest on record, UN agency reports
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:41 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Earth has just had the hottest January-September on record, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday, adding that the average air and sea temperatures in September logged the greatest rise above monthly average in the 136-year historical record.
UN agencies ready to support Government-led relief efforts in quake-hit South Asia
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:39 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): United Nations agencies are mobilizing and stand ready to support Government-led relief operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday, adding that his thoughts are with the people of the two countries after a powerful earthquake struck Badakshan province in Afghanistan.
Mali: UN says three civilians killed, two peacekeepers wounded by mine explosions
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:37 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): The United Nations mission in Mali has condemned the explosion of a mine or an explosive device in the Kidal region of the country Saturday, killing three civilians and wounding two peacekeepers.
UN condemns attack in Afghanistan that killed two, injured six
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): The top UN official in Afghanistan has condemned the killing of two human rights workers on Monday by a remote-controlled explosive device in the eastern city of Jalalabad, saying "the climate of fear created by such attacks, threatens vital human rights work" being carried out throughout the country.
Valuing women's work key to achieving new global goal on gender equality: UN agency
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:00 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Applauding the decision by Member States to include gender equality as a key plank of the newly-adopted 2030 Agenda, a senior United Nations labour agency official has stressed the importance of empowering women in employment, salaries and the working environment, urging governments to commit to this achievable, basic right.
Lawful civil society groups are not enemies of democracy, but key allies: UN expert
Oct 27, 2015, at 01:58 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): United Nations human rights expert Ben Emmerson on Monday urged governments across the world to ensure that civil society be included in global, co-ordinated efforts to counter the spread of terrorism.
Afghanistan: Blast kills 2 AIHRC officials killed
Oct 26, 2015, at 11:45 pm
Kabul, Oct 26 (IBNS): A bomb blast in Afghanistan's Jalalabad area left two officials of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), media reports said.
UN special envoy condemns attack against Palestinian politician
Oct 26, 2015, at 01:33 pm
New York, Oct 26 (IBNS): Condemning Sunday's attack in Ramallah against a prominent Palestinian political figure, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov has called for a thorough investigation into the incident and has reiterated the call by top United Nations officials to reduce tensions in the region and avoid actions that would spark further violence.
Tony Blair apologises for Iraq war 'mistakes'
Oct 26, 2015, at 04:41 am
London, Oct 25 (IBNS): Former British PM Tony Blair has apologised for the 'mistakes' committed during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Maldives Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor detained
Oct 25, 2015, at 04:24 am
Male, Oct 24 (IBNS): The Maldives Police on Saturday arrested the country's Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor in connection with an explosion aboard a boat carrying the Indian Ocean archipelago's president last month, media reports said.
Dhaka: 1 killed in homemade bomb explosions
Oct 24, 2015, at 04:10 pm
Dhaka, Oct 24 (IBNS): At least one person as killed in homemade bomb explosions in old Dhaka on Saturday, media reports said.
ECOSOC President urges curtailing flow of illegal finances that cost Africa billions
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:52 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): In a "timely and necessary" meeting on illicit financial flows and their impact on development in Africa, Oh Joon, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Friday urged broader efforts to combat such flows, of IFFs from the continent could amount to a staggering $50 billion each year.
Ban condemns terrorist attacks in Pakistan on religious holiday
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned Friday's bombing of a procession of worshippers marking the Shia religious holiday of Ashura in Jacobabad, and the recent terrorist attacks in the Pakistani provinces of Balochistan and Sindh.
Six months after earthquake, Nepal racing against winter: UN relief official
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:49 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): As winter approaches, the top United Nations humanitarian official for Nepal on Friday stressed that shelter and food remain top priorities six months after the devastating earthquakes that shook the country in April.